A nonlinear finite element model using a unified formulation for dynamic analysis of multilayer composite plate embedded with SMA wires

In this study, a new nonlinear finite element model is presented in the frame work of Carrera’s Unified Formulation (CUF) for the dynamic analysis of SMA hybrid composite considering the instantaneous phase transformation and material nonlinearity effects, for every point on the plate. The CUF unify many theories in a unified form which can be differed by the order of expansion and definition of the variables in the thickness direction. The Brinson’s SMA constitutive equation is used to model the behavior of SMA wires. The governing equations are derived using the Reissner Mixed Variational Theorem (RMVT) in order to enforce the interlaminar continuity of transverse shear and normal stresses between two adjacent layers. A transient finite-element-based method beside an iterative incremental procedure is presented to study the dynamic response of multilayered composite plate embedded with SMA wires. A suppressed vibration of the plate is observed, which is due to the energy dissipation of SMA wires. The parametric effects like length-to-thickness ratio, plate aspect ratio and also the effect of different boundary conditions, upon the loss factors are investigated. Results show that as the length-to-thickness ratio and also the plate aspect ratio increases, the loss factor decreases.